Spirit Animals

BETRAYED: Chapter Forty Five

“Hey! Wait up!” A girl called, running up to the boy who had been venturing through the Trunswick streets for quite some time now. He turned around in hearing her familiar voice. “Do you have any news yet?” She asked. It was Meighen, and she had a hint of worry on her freckled face.

Devin shook his head. “Not at all. Do you?” He returned the question. Megs huffed, crossing her arms. “I wouldn’t have asked if I did.” She snapped in her brisk tone. The noble rolled his eyes, taking a few glances at the passing onlookers.

“Maybe it was a scam, a trick to get rid of us.” Devin began in a quieter voice. “Calvin’s probably in on that monster’s scheme too.”

“No, that doesn’t fit in right. Maybe Jaeden just needs more time.” Meighen gave a suggestion. “It’s been longer than two weeks. That should have been enough to at least get an idea.” Devin sighed. “No one thinks with their right mind anymore.”

“Speak for yourself.” Megs muttered under her breath.

“You know what?” She asked, straightening herself. Devin raised a brow. “Who cares about. . .that anymore? Those ignorant young adults need to worry about themselves for once. We’ve just been dragged around by them.”

It didn’t take her much thought to say that. . .surprisingly. Actually, that was kind of true. The two were brought into a mess that would have been the least of their concerns before. “Putting all of this aside, they can sort out their own problems.”

Devin widened his eyes slightly, not expecting her to say something like that. Despite Megs being one of the most stubborn people he knew, Devin thought she would have had consideration for the others that they had spent so much time in supporting. Oh well.

After simply nodding to her statement, he said, “Before I started venturing out of Trunswick, these four kids, the same age as you and I, came and knocked over the water tower on behalf of saving their ‘friend’. They were too blinded by their generosity to save the world to not really see the small effects of their actions.

“When you weren’t here, there had been a lack in supplies and materials since lots were damaged by the water. It wasn’t a good thing, and yet people still wonder why I am so. . .how do I put it? Thick-skulled.”

Megs shook her head. “How about arrogant? Self-centered, perhaps?” Devin rolled his eyes. “Yeah, Yeah. But likewise, I’m glad you’re not like that. You have sense.” He said. Megs shrugged, giving him a nod. She didn’t have a problem in taking that ‘somewhat’ of a compliment.

“Listen, I don’t need a lecture to know that I’m already a good person.” She smirked. “I never said that.” Devin retorted. Meighen gave him a pat on the shoulder. She let a moment pass. “Well, besides the news thing, what did Eric say about your hand?”

Devin lifted his palm up as if he were expecting to see something on it, even though the wound from that dagger was covered up by a cloth. “He. . .didn’t really consider it. Just a simple point at me to show that he noticed.”

“And what did you say?” Megs asked with a curious tone. “Splinter.” Once Devin said that single word, Megs nearly broke out laughing. “You’re so convincing! I’m proud!” She was almost sarcastic. Devin made a small gesture, like a bow in thanks. Megs gave him a soft punch to his arm, chuckling.

Others may have thought of them to be rude for not quite caring about their comrades’ current situation. As of now, it wasn’t difficult to understand how such an imposter could have caused damage from even the very beginning.

Oh, this separated group, Calvin, Meighen, and Devin, all thought it was Bryce who caused their troubles. Xak had only been in assist for the most part. In fact, it was entirely the opposite, and when they least expected it, that’s when moves were made.

They thought they hadn’t been fooled by their clever games, yet the two Trunswick-born younglings had only seen a sliver of what those Greencloak, and Conqueror, traitors could do. That was the last thing the two would have thought of them anyways.

Traitors. It was as simple as that, and it will stay that way until they are proven wrong.

•••

Jaeden grew impatient. Between Greenhaven’s current events and Penny going missing, he came to a state of mind where he knew there was no use for him to stay at the fortress. They wouldn’t need him to serve on the alliance. He wasn’t even a real Greencloak.

To think about it, at least he was believable. Adding his natural talents of nervousness and a stuttering voice, he could impersonate the most innocent and unknowing person any day, that is if he hadn’t achieved that already.

On counterpart, it was a simple task to find a mode of transportation back to the mainland, considering how busy the other Greencloaks were to not even have the chance to notice him. A small dinghy was all Jaeden needed, and it didn’t take him long at all to return to the town of Radenbridge.

The frosted atmosphere was enough to give him chills by the second once he docked. The weather wasn’t too terribly frigid, but at least he had a cloak to keep himself warm.

He looked around, peering at every building and twist in the cobblestone road, trying to somehow find something that could help him. No, not a person; just a sign, and one appeared as he approached the potential outskirts of the port town.

Was he trying to find Calvin, one of the three who hand originally asked for his help? Not a chance. He was trying to find who he knew, and before he could wrap his head around it, Jaeden found himself panicking.

“P-Penny!” He exclaimed only in the frightened tone he could currently use. He kneeled down to the stump of feathers, all connected to the familiar, pudgy body of his spirit animal. He almost hesitated to pick the sparrow up, noticing a misalignment with her right wing.

It was broken. The poor, fragile bird hadn’t even the chance to defend herself against what caused this. “H-how could they do this to y-you?” He stammered, tears brimming his eyes at the harm caused to his spirit animal.

Penny didn’t really have the option to respond. Leaving her out in the cold with no shelter or warmth was enough to make her as stiff as a board. She couldn’t stop shaking, however. Jaeden noticed the note he had wrote was still on her leg, however not as neat as he had tied it before she left.

He unfolded it, turning the thin piece of papyrus over to the side he didn’t happen to write on. Nothing. Not even the start to a response was there.

“People in this world just don’t care how generous. . .how t-thoughtful. . .I knew I should have just s-stayed in Betarvius. I was better off on m-my own.”

He unraveled the knitted scarf from his neck, wrapping it around his sparrow and holding the bundle close to his chest. “Let’s g-go, Penny. I hope they find what they’re looking for, b-because they surely don’t n-need me anymore.”

Jaeden was upset. The sixteen year old didn’t need any further explanation to realize that he didn’t want anyone to drag him around and tell him what to do. He would go back into town, buy a pretzel, and leave at first light.

•••

Things grew quiet when everyone cleared. Well, for the most part, aside from the few scattered seagulls that appeared overhead. Waves crashed upon the sides of the Conqueror ships, each one guiding to the same place. The most legendary place in all of Erdas; the Evertree.

The summoner of Jhi, the Great Panda, had been held captive while on the sail. Before, the girl tried to fight her way out of the situation, even breaking a few soldiers’ noses on occasions. The girl was stubborn, and MacKenzie had to take a few shifts in watching her.

Whenever the young girl got out of hand, it was easy, in contrast to others’ experiences, to put her on more of a restraint. MacKenzie didn’t find the Greencloak to be much of an issue.

“The Devourer will pay for what he has done.”

“The Conquerors will never get away with this.”

Those were the types of things the girl said while in her cell. Mac responded one time with, “Ah, don’t waste your breaths. This cabin only holds so much air.” At other moments, Zerif came to check in on the two as if they had a play-date, but the anger only grew in the prisoner’s face with every word either of them spoke.

This was amusing, as most Conquerors would put it. As this occurred more often, Zerif’s traits began to show more on his daughter. The only thing that creeped the Greencloak girl out was the grin; the teetered hint of a smile that mimicked on both of the blue-cloaked Conquerors. Yes, it was odd, but it only made them more unique.

However now, MacKenzie’s shifts came to an end as the ships neared the banks of Southern Nilo. She found herself looking out at the closing horizon of the orange-tinted land beside Zerif, who appeared just as mesmerized. Jinx sat in the space between them, letting the salty splatters of the sea water drop into his fur.

Mac grabbed her father’s hand, holding it tightly, in which the man didn’t seem to mind. She felt her mother’s sword bump against her side in its sheathe, which only reminded her of the past troubles.

With a quiet sigh, she said, “I love you, dad.” Zerif didn’t respond to her words, which only made her feel a slight regret in even saying them.

The tall man took his hand from MacKenzie’s, but instead of putting it to the side, he rested his arm over her shoulder in a comforting way, letting her know that he had heard what she said.

~~~~~~

And the time has come for the final 5 (maybe) chapters. Take your bets now in what could happen. You may be surprised.